Swinging gate assembly, electronic livestock feeding station, and automated sorting system

ABSTRACT

A swinging gate assembly is provided for use in an electronic livestock feeding station and an automated sorting system. The gate assembly has a generally V-shaped configuration in plan view with first and second side openings defined on each side of the V-shape. A gate panel has a first side edge pivotally connected to the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical first pivot axis at the apex of the V-shape. The gate panel is swingable about the first pivot axis between a first position in which the first side opening is closed by the gate panel and a second position in which the second side opening is closed by the gate panel. A mechanical actuator and locking assembly is provided for moving the gate panel between the first and second positions and locking the gate panel in a selected one of the positions.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/386,281 filed on Jun. 5, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electronic feeder stations for gestating sows are known in theprior art. A typical feeder station allows one sow to enter the stationand eat its allotted feed amount without competition from othergestating sows in a group managed system. For example, a feeder stationmay have an entry gate which restricts entry to one sow at a time, aprotected race, a feed bowl, an exit way with a one-way gate to prevententry of animals as the eating sow leaves, and a feed and waterdispensing mechanism with a feed hopper, and feed station controllerconnected to a PC in a control room. Groups of sows, typically 50 to 60,are fed sequentially by the feeder station.

[0003] The Applicants have discovered that maintaining a farrowing group(i.e., sows with similar expected farrowing dates) together as much aspossible is advantageous because it avoids the social adjustment thatarises when new animals are introduced into a group. This practice workswell for sow farms that manage increments of 1,200 sows because,typically, 50 sows are farrowed each week in such a farm (or 100 for a2,400 sow farm, 150 for a 3,600 sow farm, etc.). For such a farm,typically 62 to 65 animals are bred with the expectation that about 20to 25% of the sows will recycle and not maintain their pregnancy. Thus,a farrowing group may start with 62 to 65 animals in the group, but bythe end of the 114-day gestation period, only about 50 animals remain inthe group. This group size fits the capacity of one typical feederstation perfectly because up to about 65 animals can be fed by onefeeder station in a day without overloading the station.

[0004] When the size of the sow farm does not permit optimum groupsizes, then the feeder stations are under utilized and less economic, orgroup mixing must occur which creates undesirable behavior betweenanimals and difficulties for the farmer. Thus, there is a need in theindustry for an improved feeder station that solves these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the problems with the existingfeeder stations described above by fitting swinging gate assemblies atthe entry and exit sides of the feeder station. The gate assembliesoperate to allow one pen of sows to use the feeder station for a firsttime period (e.g., 12 hours). The gate assemblies are then automaticallyrepositioned to allow an adjoining pen of sows to use the feeder stationfor a second time period (e.g., 12 hours). The use times for each pencan be set at any desired time period.

[0006] With the present invention, two groups of up to about 32 sows canuse the same feeder station. Therefore, sow farms of about 600 sows canefficiently employ a feeder station and still keep gestating sows in“static” groups that start at about 32 bred sows, but drop to about 25animals ready for farrowing after 114 days. These static groups can thenbe kept together without mixing during gestation.

[0007] The swinging gate assemblies at the entry and exit sides of thefeeder station operate to route the sows into the feeder station andthen, when they leave, back into their original group. Avoidingaccidentally routing the exiting sow into the neighboring group isimportant because they would then be forced to endure severe punishmentfrom their new pen mates. The present invention accomplishes this in twoways. First, the swinging gate assemblies are prevented from movinguntil two infrared detectors, one near the entry gate and one near thefeeder, positively show that no animal remains in the feeder station.The control system associated with the feeder station is set toreposition the swinging gate assemblies based on the preset timeinterval and switching time, but will delay the repositioning until bothinfrared detectors indicate that no animal remains in the feederstation.

[0008] Second, to prevent sows from forcing their way into the feederstation from the excluded group, the swinging gate assemblies are eachlocked into position by an over-center action that provides mechanicallocking rather than relying on the air cylinder to hold the gates inposition. This is an important feature because sows are powerful enoughto overpower the air cylinder and open the swing gate to gain entry intothe feeder station. Success at defeating the air cylinder would againlead to group mixing and potential animal injury. The over-centermechanical lock prevents this from occurring. A further failure couldoccur if air pressure is lost. The mechanical lock remains in positionand prevents loss of control of the gate assemblies, even if airpressure is lost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as thedisclosure of the invention is made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swinging gate assembly accordingto the present invention showing a gate panel in a first lockedposition.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the swinging gate assembly showingthe gate panel in an intermediate position as it moves between the firstlocked position and a second locked position.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swinging gate assembly showingthe gate panel in the second locked position.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the swinging gate assembly with the gatepanel in the first locked position.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the swinging gate assembly with the gatepanel in the intermediate position as it moves between the first andsecond locked positions.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the swinging gate assembly with the gatepanel in the second locked position.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of a sliding pivot connectionbetween the gate panel and a toggle arm used to swing the gate panelbetween its first and second locked positions.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a plan view of an electronic livestock feeding stationfor use with multiple pens of livestock which includes a pair ofswinging gate assemblies according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a plan view of an automated sorting system using theswinging gate assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A swinging gate assembly 10 according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The swinging gate assembly 10 has a frame 11 having a generallyV-shaped configuration in plan view. The frame 11 has structural members12-15 that define a first rectangular side opening 16 and structuralmembers 17-20 that define a second rectangular side opening 21. Thefirst and second side openings 16, 21 are located on each side of anapex 22 of the V-shaped configuration. The frame 11 has a firstconnection plate 23 at the apex 22 of the V-shaped configuration forconnecting to a partition or wall separating two pens of livestock. Theframe 11 has second and third connection plates 24, 25 arranged at theopen side of the V-shaped configuration for connecting to respectivesides of a feeding station, a sorting alley, or the like.

[0021] The gate assembly 10 includes a gate panel 26 having a generallyrectangular shape with a top edge 27, a bottom edge 28, and first andsecond side edges 29, 30. A suitable structure 31, such as a series ofrods or tubes, extends between the edges 27-30 to prevent animals frompassing through the gate panel 26. The first side edge 29 of the gatepanel 26 is pivotally connected to the frame 11 at or near the apex 22of the V-shaped configuration for rotation about a substantiallyvertical first pivot axis 32. The gate panel 26 is swingable about thefirst pivot axis 32 between a first position (FIGS. 1 and 4) in whichthe first side opening 16 of the frame 11 is closed by the gate panel 26and the second side opening 21 of the frame 11 is open, and a secondposition (FIGS. 3 and 6) in which the first side opening 16 is open andthe second side opening 21 is closed by the gate panel 26. In the firstposition, animals are allowed to pass through the second side opening 21of the frame 11 but are prevented by the gate panel 26 from passingthrough the first side opening 16 of the frame 11. In the secondposition, animals are allowed to pass through the first side opening 16of the frame 11 but are prevented by the gate panel 26 from passingthrough the second side opening 21 of the frame 11.

[0022] A mechanical actuator and locking assembly 33 is provided formoving the gate panel 26 between the first and second positions andlocking the gate panel 26 in a selected one of the first and secondpositions. The mechanical actuator and locking assembly 33 includes anair cylinder 34 having a first end 35 connected to the frame 11 and asecond end 36 connected to a toggle arm 37. The first end 35 of the aircylinder 34 is connected to the frame 11 at a pivot point 38 which isoffset a predetermined distance from the apex of the V-shapedconfiguration. The toggle arm 37 couples the air cylinder 34 to the gatepanel 26 in such a way as to prevent forced movement of the gate panel26 out of the first or second positions unless the air cylinder 34 isactuated.

[0023] The toggle arm 37 has first, second, and third connection points39-41. The first connection point 39 is pivotally and slidably connectedto the gate panel 26 along the upper edge of the gate panel 26. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a slide bar 42 is attached at its ends42 a, 42 b to the upper edge 27 of the gate panel 26, and a tubularmember 43 is mounted for sliding movement along the slide bar 42. Thetoggle arm 37 is pivotally connected to the tubular member 43 at thefirst connection point 39.

[0024] The toggle arm 37 is pivotally connected to the frame 11 at thesecond connection point 40 for rotation about a substantially verticalsecond pivot axis. The second pivot axis of the second connection point40 is spaced from the first pivot axis 32 and located substantiallyequidistant between the first and second side openings 16, 21 of theframe 11. The toggle arm 37 is pivotally connected to the second end 36of the air cylinder 34 at the third connection point 41. The first,second, and third connection points 39-41 of the toggle arm 37 define atriangular shape. The toggle arm 37 itself can be a generally L-shapedarm as shown in the drawings, or it can be triangular-shaped, V-shaped,or any other suitable shape as long as the first, second, and thirdconnection points 39-41 are positioned at the apexes of a triangularshape.

[0025] The gate panel 26 is selectively moved between its first andsecond positions by pivoting the toggle arm 37 in a desired direction byextending or retracting the air cylinder 34. The toggle arm 37 ispivoted by the air cylinder 34 until a line passing through the firstand second connection points 39, 40 of the toggle arm moves slightlypast (“over-center”) a position in which the line is perpendicular tothe gate panel 26. A stop structure 44 is provided to limit furthermovement of the toggle arm 37 once it reaches its slightly over-centerposition. The stop structure 44 can be a suitable abutment associatedwith the air-cylinder 34 or the sliding pivot connection 39 between thetoggle arm 37 and the gate panel 26.

[0026] The implementation and operation of the swinging gate assembly 10described above will now be described below with reference to FIGS. 8and 9 which show two embodiments in which the gate assembly 10 is used.

[0027] An electronic livestock feeding station 50 for use with multiplepens of livestock is shown in FIG. 8. The feeding station 50 ispositioned between and shared by two pens 51, 52 of livestock which mustbe kept separated.

[0028] A first swinging gate assembly 53 is positioned at an entry sideof the feeding station 50. The gate assembly 53 includes a first gatepanel 54 which is selectively swingable between a first position (shownin FIG. 8) in which animals in the first pen 51 are allowed to passthrough the first gate assembly 53 into the feeding station 50 andanimals in the second pen 52 are not allowed to pass through, and asecond position (not shown) in which animals in the second pen 52 areallowed to pass through the first gate assembly 53 into the feedingstation 50 and animals in the first pen 51 are not allowed to passthrough. The first gate assembly 53 has the same structure as the gateassembly 10 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0029] A one-way entry gate 55 is provided in the feeding station 50after the first swinging gate assembly 53. The entry gate 55 functionsto restrict entry into the feeding station 50 to one animal at a time.The entry gate 55 may have a conventional structure known in the priorart.

[0030] A feed dispensing system 56 is provided in the feeding station 50after the entry gate 55. The feed dispensing system 56 includes a feeder57 from which the animal eats, a hopper 58 containing a supply of feed,and a mechanism 59 for selectively dispensing an allotted ration of feedfrom the hopper 58 into the feeder 57 for each animal entering thefeeding station 50.

[0031] A one-way exit gate 60 is provided in the feeding station 50after the feed dispensing system 56. The exit gate 60 functions toprevent entry of other animals as an animal within the feeding station50 leaves the feeding station. The exit gate 60 may have a conventionalstructure known in the prior art.

[0032] A second swinging gate assembly 61 is provided in the feedingstation 50 after the exit gate 60. The second gate assembly 61 includesa second gate panel 62 which is selectively swingable between a firstposition (shown in FIG. 8) in which animals leaving the feeding station50 are directed back into the first pen 51, and a second position (notshown) in which animals leaving the feeding station 50 are directed intothe second pen 52. The second gate assembly 61 has the same structure asthe gate assembly 10 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0033] A first infrared detector 63 is positioned near the first gateassembly 53 for detecting the presence of an animal within the feedingstation 50. A second infrared detector 64 is positioned near the feeddispensing system 56 for detecting the presence and identity of ananimal within the feeding station 50.

[0034] A control system 65 is provided which receives inputs from thefirst and second infrared detectors 63, 64. The control system 65communicates with the feed dispensing system 56 for causing a desiredration of feed to be dispensed from the hopper 58 into the feeder 57based on the detected identity of the animal within the feeding station50.

[0035] The control system 65 also functions to reposition the first andsecond swinging gate assemblies 53, 61 at preset time intervalsaccording to a user-defined program. For example, the user-definedprogram may cause the control system 65 to reposition the first andsecond swinging gate assemblies 53, 61 every 12 hours so that the firstpen 51 can access the feeding station 50 for the first 12 hours and thenthe second pen 52 can access the feeding station 50 for the next 12hours and so on. The control system 65 can thus provide equal sharing ofthe feeding station 50 between multiple pens 51, 52 of animals.

[0036] To avoid mixing the animals in the first pen 51 with the animalsin the second pen 52, the first and second gate assemblies 53, 61 shouldnot be repositioned while an animal is present within the feedingstation 50. Thus, the control system 65 is set to prevent repositioningof the gate assemblies 53, 61 at the end of a preset time interval whenthe presence of an animal is detected within the feeding station 50 byeither of the first or second infrared detectors 63, 64.

[0037] An automated sorting system 70 for livestock is shown in FIG. 9.The automated sorting system 70 provides a system for sorting heavieranimals (e.g., animals that have achieved an optimum weight formarketing) from lighter weight animals and directing the sorted animalsinto two different pens 71, 72.

[0038] The sorting system 70 includes a scale 73 for individuallyweighing animals as the animals walk across or stand on a platform 74. Acontrol means 75 receives an input from the scale 73 indicative of eachanimal's weight and determines whether or not the animal exceeds apredetermined threshold weight.

[0039] A swinging gate assembly 76 is provided having a gate panel 77which is selectively swingable between a first position (shown in FIG.9) in which an animal leaving the scale 73 is directed into the firstpen 71, and a second position (not shown) in which the animal leavingthe scale 73 is directed into the second pen 72. The swinging gateassembly 76 has a locking structure 78 that locks the gate panel 77 in aselected one of the first and second positions. The swinging gateassembly 76 has the same structure as the gate assembly 10 describedabove and shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0040] The swinging gate assembly 76 is moved between its first andsecond positions based on the determination made by the control means 75as to whether or not each particular animal exceeds the predeterminedthreshold weight. Thus, the heavier animals are automatically directedinto one of the pens 71, 72 and the lighter animals are automaticallydirected into the other one of the pens 71, 72.

[0041] The automated sorting system 70 further includes a one-way entrygate (not shown) that restricts entry onto the scale 73 to one animal ata time, and a one-way exit gate (not shown) that prevents entry of otheranimals onto the scale 73 as an animal leaves the scale 73.

[0042] It will be appreciated that certain features of the presentinvention described above can be changed without departing from thescope of the invention. For example, other types of actuators, such ashydraulic or electric driven actuators, can be used instead of the aircylinder 34. The shape of the frame 11, the gate panel 26, and thetoggle arm 37 can be changed while still maintaining the over-centerlocking action to keep the gate panel 26 locked in its respectivepositions. Additional gate assemblies could be incorporated into theabove-described feeder station 50 to allow more than two separate pensand groups of animals to use a single feeder station without groupmixing. Additional gate assemblies could also be incorporated into theabove-described automated sorting system 70 to allow animals to besorted into more than two groups.

[0043] While the invention has been specifically described in connectionwith specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this isby way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of theappended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art willpermit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A swinging gate assembly for use in a livestockfacility, comprising: a frame having a generally V-shaped configurationin plan view with first and second side openings defined on each side ofan apex of the V-shaped configuration; a gate panel having a first sideedge pivotally connected to the frame for rotation about a substantiallyvertical first pivot axis at or near said apex, said gate panel beingswingable about said first pivot axis between a first position in whichthe first side opening is closed by the gate panel and the second sideopening is open, and a second position in which the first side openingis open and the second side opening is closed by the gate panel; and amechanical actuator and locking assembly for moving said gate panelbetween said first and second positions and locking said gate panel in aselected one of said first and second positions.
 2. The swinging gateassembly according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuator andlocking assembly comprises a mechanical linkage that pivots over-centerto lock the gate panel in a selected one of the first and secondpositions.
 3. The swinging gate assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid mechanical actuator and locking assembly comprises an actuator anda toggle arm, said actuator having a first end connected to said frameand a second end, said toggle arm having first, second, and thirdconnection points, said first connection point being pivotally andslidably connected to said gate panel, said second connecton point beingpivotally connected to said frame for rotation about a substantiallyvertical second pivot axis, and said third connection point beingpivotally connected to the second end of said actuator.
 4. The swinginggate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first, second, and thirdconnection points of said toggle arm define apexes of a triangularshape.
 5. The swinging gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein saidgate panel is selectively moved between said first and second positionsby pivoting said toggle arm in a desired direction until a line passingthrough the first and second connection points of said toggle arm movesslightly past a position in which said line is perpendicular to saidgate panel.
 6. The swinging gate assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid mechanical actuator and locking assembly comprises an air cylinder,and a toggle arm which couples the air cylinder to the gate panel, saidtoggle arm being connected between said frame and said gate panel insuch a way as to prevent forced movement of said gate panel out of saidfirst or second positions unless said air cylinder is actuated.
 7. Theswinging gate assembly according to claim 6, wherein said toggle arm ispivotally mounted to said frame about a substantially vertical secondpivot axis, said second pivot axis being spaced from said first pivotaxis and located substantially equidistant between said first and secondside openings of said frame.
 8. The swinging gate assembly according toclaim 6, wherein said toggle arm is pivotally and slidably connected tosaid gate panel along an upper edge of said gate panel.
 9. An electroniclivestock feeding station for use with multiple pens of livestock,comprising: a first swinging gate assembly having a first gate panelwhich is selectively swingable between a first position in which animalsin a first pen are allowed to pass through the first gate assembly intothe feeding station and animals in a second pen are not allowed to passthrough, and a second position in which animals in the second pen areallowed to pass through the first gate assembly into the feeding stationand animals in the first pen are not allowed to pass through; a feeddispensing mechanism that selectively dispenses an allotted amount offeed to an animal within the feeding station; and a second swinging gateassembly having a second gate panel which is selectively swingablebetween a first position in which animals leaving the feeding stationare directed into the first pen, and a second position in which animalsleaving the feeding station are directed into the second pen.
 10. Theelectronic livestock feeding station according to claim 9, furthercomprising a one-way entry gate that restricts entry into the feedingstation to one animal at a time, and a one-way exit gate that preventsentry of other animals as the animal within the feeding station leavesthe feeding station.
 11. The electronic livestock feeding stationaccording to claim 9, wherein said first and second swinging gateassemblies each comprises a mechanical actuator and locking assembly formoving said first and second gate panels between said respective firstand second positions and mechanically locking said gate panels in aselected one of said positions.
 12. The electronic livestock feedingstation according to claim 11, wherein said mechanical actuator andlocking assemblies each comprises a mechanical linkage that pivotsover-center to lock the respective gate panel in a selected one of saidpositions.
 13. The electronic livestock feeding station according toclaim 11, wherein said mechanical actuator and locking assemblies eachcomprises an air cylinder, and a toggle arm which couples the aircylinder to the respective gate panel, said toggle arm being connectedbetween a frame of the respective gate assembly and the respective gatepanel in such a way as to prevent forced movement of the respective gatepanel out of said first or second positions unless said air cylinder isactuated.
 14. The electronic livestock feeding station according toclaim 9, further comprising a control system for repositioning the firstand second swinging gate assemblies according to a user-defined program.15. The electronic livestock feeding station according to claim 14,further comprising at least one sensor for detecting the presence of ananimal within the feeding station, and wherein said control systemprevents repositioning of the first and second swinging gate assemblieswhen the presence of an animal is detected within the feeding station bysaid at least one sensor.
 16. The electronic livestock feeding stationaccording to claim 15, wherein said at least one sensor comprises afirst infrared detector positioned near the first gate assembly and asecond infrared detector positioned near the feed dispensing mechanism.17. An automated sorting system for livestock, comprising: a scale forindividually weighing animals; a control means for determining whetheror not an animal exceeds a threshold weight; and a swinging gateassembly having a gate panel which is selectively swingable based on thedetermination made by said control means between a first position inwhich an animal leaving the scale is directed into a first pen, and asecond position in which an animal leaving the scale is directed into asecond pen, said swinging gate assembly having a locking structure thatlocks said gate panel in a selected one of said first and secondpositions.
 18. The automated sorting system for livestock according toclaim 17, wherein said locking structure comprises a mechanical linkagethat pivots over-center to lock the gate panel in a selected one of saidpositions.
 19. The automated sorting system for livestock according toclaim 17, wherein said swinging gate assembly comprises an air cylinder,and a toggle arm which couples the air cylinder to the gate panel, saidtoggle arm being connected between a frame of the swinging gate assemblyand the gate panel in such a way as to prevent forced movement of thegate panel out of said first or second positions unless said aircylinder is actuated.
 20. The automated sorting system for livestockaccording to claim 17, further comprising a one-way entry gate thatrestricts entry onto the scale to one animal at a time, and a one-wayexit gate that prevents entry of other animals onto the scale as ananimal leaves the scale.